Year: 2021
Total Time: 44:41
Label: Eisenwald
According to the famous ancient philosopher Aristotle, virtue is an exis, a habit related to election, stands in the middle and can be determined by the way and of course the reason that a wise man has the ability to define, therefore the Swedes NETHERBIRD chose to name “Arete” (“Virtue” in Greek Language) the successor of “Into The Vast Uncharted” of 2019, a very good melodic Black album, which did not receive the appropriate recognition by the metal audience.
NETHERBIRD is not a new group, they have been around since 2004 and in the recent years they seem to be trying to break away from the mediocrity of symphonic Black Metal and climb to a higher level by fully adopting the norm of Melodic Black Metal and more specifically of DISSECTION. This is not necessarily a bad thing and we are not talking about hard copy, but an appropriation of positive elements such as guitar riffs, dark and catchy melodies with wonderful heavy metal solos performed by the guitarist and leader of NETHERBIRDD Pontus Anderson that lighten the darkness and even lead to ferocious headbanging.
From the very beginning, with the brief introduction of “Ame Damnee” and “Towers of the Night”, which was released as a precursor and received positive comments, we have the position on which NETHERBIRD will move throughout “Arete”. Singer Nephente’s vocals sound pleasant without the acrobatics or the constant alternations that could distract the listener and range in the middle of the class at the same time that the former AMON AMARTH drummer Fredrik Andersson puts his own touch with its simple, rich and substantial drumming. Being in the same record label with UADA only benefits and the sound interventions of the Americans are visible and welcome in my opinion. The highlight for me is the track that closes the album, “Atrium of the Storm”, a top lineup that mixes Swedish, Finnish and even American Melodic Black Metal equally and closes “Arete” perfectly.
The sound production of “Arete” is polished, bulky where it should be and “breathes” easily, making listening to the album a very pleasant process. In fact, the big moments of the album are minimal and therefore fail to launch NETHERBIRD, but it is still a very good effort to consolidate NETHERBIRD to a high level. Aristotle tries to prove to us that Virtue is the middle way, mediocrity. If our deeds, our works come out of the middle way only then the praise is won because “and the means is praised and succeeded”. And “Arete” wins the praise but not the standing ovation.
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: NETHERBIRD – Official Page
